PACKRAFT EXPEDITION SPITSBERGEN | JULY & AUGUST 2028
At 78 degrees north
On foot and by packraft through the fjords and tundra of Spitsbergen, under the midnight sun.
The story of this expedition
From Brussels you fly via Oslo to Longyearbyen, the northernmost real settlement in the world. From there a boat takes us deeper into the fjords, to a drop off point with no road leading to it. From that moment the real adventure begins: completely off grid, on an archipelago where polar bears outnumber people.
You pull your packraft out of your backpack, inflate it and paddle across water only a few degrees above zero. Past glacier fronts that calve with a thundering roar, between drifting ice floes. The calm on the water stands in sharp contrast to what is happening around you.
Between the paddling days we travel on foot across tundra, boulder fields and glacial moraines. There is not a single tree on all of Spitsbergen, so your view reaches literally to the horizon and distances become impossible to judge.
In summer the sun here does not set for months. You lose your sense of time and start living on energy instead of on the clock. Do you wait a day because the weather is turning, or do you push on because it stays light anyway? That freedom is as liberating as it is disorienting.
We deliberately choose July and August: the only window in which the fjords are free of ice and navigable, the tundra is free of snow and the midnight sun is at its peak.
The story of
this expedition
From Brussels you fly via Oslo to Longyearbyen, the northernmost real settlement in the world. From there a boat takes us deeper into the fjords, to a drop off point with no road leading to it. From that moment the real adventure begins: completely off grid, on an archipelago where polar bears outnumber people.
You pull your packraft out of your backpack, inflate it and paddle across water only a few degrees above zero. Past glacier fronts that calve with a thundering roar, between drifting ice floes. The calm on the water stands in sharp contrast to what is happening around you.
Between the paddling days we travel on foot across tundra, boulder fields and glacial moraines. There is not a single tree on all of Spitsbergen, so your view reaches literally to the horizon and distances become impossible to judge.
In summer the sun here does not set for months. You lose your sense of time and start living on energy instead of on the clock. Do you wait a day because the weather is turning, or do you push on because it stays light anyway? That freedom is as liberating as it is disorienting.
We deliberately choose July and August: the only window in which the fjords are free of ice and navigable, the tundra is free of snow and the midnight sun is at its peak.
Self-sufficient,
but never alone
As soon as we set off we are off grid. We filter water from glacial streams, cook our own freeze dried expedition food and set up our camps with a watch system that runs through the night.
You learn to paddle on water just above freezing, take your turn on night watch and live with light that never goes out, guided by an experienced X- Guide whom you meet well in advance during the preparation programme.
Safety & guidance
Safety is the foundation of every Element X expedition. Our X Guides are professionally trained, hold WFR certificates and have years of experience in extreme conditions.
Every expedition has satellite phones, GPS tracking, safety procedures, an evacuation plan and local support on Spitsbergen. The polar bear protocol is fully worked out during the preparation programme and applied daily during the expedition.
Before departure we also carry out a thorough risk analysis and prepare everything down to the last detail.
Guided by real expedition leaders.
You step into nature, away from the
beaten track, but always with the certainty of experienced guidance
and safety first.
Safety & guidance
Safety is the foundation of every Element X expedition. Our X Guides are professionally trained, hold
WFR certificates and have
years of experience in extreme conditions.
Every expedition has satellite phones, GPS tracking, clear safety procedures, a detailed evacuation plan and local support on Spitsbergen. The polar bear protocol is fully worked out during the preparation programme and applied daily during the expedition.
Before departure we also carry out a thorough risk analysis and prepare everything down to the last detail.
Self-sufficient,
but never alone
As soon as we set off we are off grid. We filter water from glacial streams, cook our own freeze dried expedition food and set up our camps with a watch system that runs through the night.
You learn to paddle on water just above freezing, take your turn on night watch and live with light that never goes out, guided by an experienced X-Guide whom you meet well in advance during the preparation programme.
We let no one step into the unknown unprepared.
An expedition of this calibre starts months in advance. The preparation programme consists of an individual phase and a group phase.
Individual phase
Starts immediately after registration. You receive an inspiration pack with practical tips, insights and exercises to start moving like an expedition member. You gather your expedition gear using the packing list (do not buy anything yet: bring what you already have to the kick off). And you share your medical information, because the best preparation is a plan for when things go wrong.
Group phase
Starts 3 to 6 months before departure with the kick off: a full day on which you meet your team, taste the expedition atmosphere and take the first steps as a group. There we plan the follow-up moments together and the WhatsApp group starts. Training includes, among other things: getting to know the group and roles, physical screening and analysis, a personalised training schedule, technical and resilience training, gear, nutrition and sleep setup, and a final check.
Accredited service provider for the KMO-portefeuille
To help entrepreneurs and KMO leaders grow as much as possible, a leadership programme/training is linked to this expedition, which closely aligns with the adventure. This programme falls under the theme Business strategy and is eligible for subsidy via the KMO-portefeuille.
As an entrepreneur, you can receive up to 30% subsidy on the training costs of this programme. Important (!): only the training itself is eligible. Travel, accommodation, and expedition costs are not covered by the subsidy.
Accredited service provider for the KMO-portefeuille
To help entrepreneurs and KMO leaders grow as much as possible, a leadership programme/training is linked to this expedition, which closely aligns with the adventure. This programme falls under the theme Business strategy and is eligible for subsidy via the KMO-portefeuille.
As an entrepreneur, you can receive up to 30% subsidy on the training costs of this programme. Important (!): only the training itself is eligible. Travel, accommodation, and expedition costs are not covered by the subsidy.
As seen in
Imagine this: paddling along a glacier wall thirty metres high, camping on tundra where not a single tree grows, and a sun that is still above the horizon at three in the morning.
On Expedition Spitsbergen you learn to live in a place that forgives no mistakes: where every decision counts, where you take your turn on watch, and where the silence is so vast that you can hear the ice crack.
Imagine this: paddling along a glacier wall thirty metres high, camping on tundra where not a single tree grows, and a sun that is still above the horizon at three in the morning.
On Expedition Spitsbergen you learn to live in a place that forgives no mistakes: where every decision counts, where you take your turn on watch, and where the silence is so vast that you can hear the ice crack.
Frequently asked questions
No. You do not need to be an elite athlete. Through our preparation programme (screening, training schedule and focused training sessions) we build your level up to expedition standard over 3 to 6 months. We teach you paddling technique during the training sessions.
Very safe. We work with WFR certified expedition leaders, satellite communication, evacuation plans and clearly defined safety protocols. For polar bears a strict protocol applies, with a watch system and safety equipment in line with local legislation.
The full expedition programme, gear, workshops, guidance, all local costs and meals are included, plus the full 3 to 6 month preparation programme. Flights, personal clothing and insurance are not included.
Frequently asked questions
No. You do not need to be an elite athlete. Through our preparation programme (screening, training schedule and focused training sessions) we build your level up to expedition standard over 3 to 6 months. We teach you paddling technique during the training sessions.
Very safe. We work with WFR certified expedition leaders, satellite communication, evacuation plans and clearly defined safety protocols. For polar bears a strict protocol applies, with a watch system and safety equipment in line with local legislation.
The full expedition programme, gear, workshops, guidance, all local costs and meals are included, plus the full 3 to 6 month preparation programme. Flights, personal clothing and insurance are not included.
Ready for 78 degrees
north?
Taking an option is free and without obligation; your spot is only confirmed after the intake.
Koen De Leeuw
Expedition leader | Element X
“In polar bear country a watch system runs right through the night. That changes a group: you are not only responsible for yourself, but also for the sleep of the others.”
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